ENG-1960 — Page 164

HEALTH

129

of the almoner. Welfare services, mainly in kind, are also main- tained by other official and voluntary agencies. A rehabilitation scheme was started during the year by a missionary organization for the benefit of patients whose tuberculosis has come under control by treatment.

Venereal Diseases. The overall incidence of venereal diseases continued to fall during 1960. There were, however, certain excep- tions and for the second year in succession there was a small increase in the number of cases of primary syphilis. This rise in the incidence of the disease after a period of continuous decline corresponds with the experience of many other cities, where the lowest incidence of syphilis was recorded five to six years after the introduction of general penicillin therapy, an event which occurred in Hong Kong in 1952-3. The number of cases coming to notice in the later stages of the disease continued to decrease.

Although there was little change in the number of cases of chancroid and of non-gonococcal urethritis, decreases were re- corded in the incidence of gonorrhoea and lymphogranuloma

venereum.

This continued improvement in the overall picture of venereal disease is attributable to expanded epidemiological control meas- ures, which consist of tracing contacts, following up defaulters from treatment, and surveillance of patients after completion of treatment. In addition, blood tests are freely available to all pregnant women, and mortality from congenital syphilis has been almost completely eliminated.!!!

Leprosy. Fourteen out-patient sessions are held weekly through- out the Colony solely for the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy; four sessions are also held at social hygiene centres in conjunction with dermatology and venereal disease clinics. New infectious cases and patients in reaction or in need of surgical rehabilitation are normally admitted to the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium (main- tained by the Hong Kong Auxiliary of the Mission to Lepers); a very limited number of beds is available in Government hospitals for orthopaedic treatment. Dapsone continues to be the drug of choice for routine treatment of the disease, while diphenyl thiourea is available for patients who show intolerance to dapsone. Bi-weekly inunctions of diethyl dithiolisophthalate are also